If there should be any solution going forward, I think the NFF and the National Sports Commission should work with Dr Rafiu Ladipo in finding an amicable solution on how to bring the various factions of the supporters club together under one umbrella name or identity.
I am making this suggestion because, whether we like it or not, he has kept faith with originality and has built a brand that has stood the test of time.
The Nigeria football and other sports supporters club that was first formed in 1955, will be 70 years old next year and to the glory of God, one of the true Pillars of this club, Dr Rafiu Oladipo is still alive today and will be alive by the special grace of God to celebrate this brand he painstakingly nurtured to become one of the very best supporters club groups in world football.
Let’s look at the facts, originally, thirteen members of the Nigeria football and other sports supporters club left the NFSSC many years ago to seek greener pastures elsewhere. These thirteen members conducted an election in Abuja to elect their chairman while in Lagos, the NFSSC Election supervised by Dr Rafiu Oladipo also took place.
The interesting part of this story, is that, while the man elected to be head of the NFSSC election held in Lagos is still in charge till date, thesame cannot be said of the breakaway group.
A few years after the Abuja election, the secretary of the group, left to set up her own group. Then the first vice chairman also left to set up his, before the second vice chairman followed suit.
Infact, from that thirteen man group, another eight different groups have since emerged to take us to where we are today.
So, this is a clarion call on the Nigeria football Association and the National Sports Commission to learn from antecedents and know that the members of that thirteen man group cannot be trusted with any key responsibilities because they have the tendency to breakup again and cause further commotion in the football supporters club.
This writer is not suggesting that Dr Rafiu Ladipo be made president of the Supporters Club, i am sure he won’t condescend so low. What I am suggesting therefore, is that he should be the rallying force to get all the various groups together and organize a free and fair election that will be supervised by the NFF and NSC.
That way, we are giving honour to whom it is due. That way, we have respected this elder statesman and honored him for his many years of selfless service to the Nation through the Supporters club and that way, we have not ignorantly handed over our supporters club to strangers.
Let’s not forget that this is the first man that gave the Supporters club an identity, let’s not also forget that this is the first man that brought Sponsorship to the supporters club. He singlehandedly brought Globacom on board and also used his influence to get Globacom to sponsor the NPFL.
This icon of our time must be given his due respect and the time to do so is now!
